Medvedev admires foreign anti-corruption experience

“One should start with himself,” he added

GORKI, February 6 (Itar-Tass) —— Repressions are not always an indicator of effective struggle against corruption but certain penalties should be, President Dmitry Medvedev said.

“The force of repression is not always an indicator of effective struggle against corruption. But repressions should be somewhere and be quite strong,” Medvedev said at a meeting with the public committee of supporters on Monday, February 6.

Medvedev said he “admires the experience of some countries” but at the same time “we understand that Russia is not Singapore”.

“Liability there is indeed very strong. But people understand this liability there differently too. They still have almost criminal penalty for throwing cigarette butts in the street, and it works there. We can also introduce such liability, but it won’t work. Moreover, it will turn into yet another source of bribery. You commit some minor offence, we can open a criminal case against you right away. Clearly, they will be opened and closed en masse,” Medvedev said.

“One should start with himself,” he added.

“There should be a set of habits. I think that those present here, certainly the majority do not think that greasing one’s palm in order to get something done quickly is shameful. Our behavioural model is far from being perfect in this respect,” he said.